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Is It Over Yet?

Last night I watched "America's Got Talent", instead of my other television choice, "America's Got Problems". I just can't listen to any more speeches and promises, especially from the group that has brought us lies, lies, and more lies. Why we idolize the Clintons, or even the Kennedys, is beyond my comprehension. It's as though the country has come to accept a certain degree of immorality as just "part of the job".

I guess I'm still shocked by the revelation that the leader of the free world is just a man.

When I was a child, and even a teenager, I thought the Presidents came from a special class of people who were trained for leadership. I thought they were dedicated and motivated from their youth to be the best that they could be. I thought they were moral and intelligent and educated. I thought they were advised by lots of other men who were nearly as perfect. I never gave a thought to power or greed or lobbyists or money. I certainly wouldn't have thought lust and drunkenness had anything to do with the leadership of our country. I blame years of bored and boring social studies teachers/football coaches for dishing out only the barest facts about politics and the presidency. We memorized the dates of exciting, important events in the history of America, and little else.

Of course my memories of any President begin with Eisenhower. I suppose because my parents viewed him as a war hero he was elevated even more in my eyes. Then came the Kennedy years at a time when I was fully prepared to do as much as I could for my country. If his death was a heartbreak for me, the revelations about his real life were even worse. It was the beginning of the end. I was finally old enough and wise enough to look behind the curtain and realize what was happening.

I haven't cared much about politics since then. Each election year seems longer and more absurd. The media loves this circus, but I'm sick of it. I know that the candidate with the most money and influence and power will "win", no matter what I think. Look at the choices we've come down to. Is this really the best we could do? Are these two men really the only ones we could find to lead us? The thought terrifies me. I don't even want to vote, and that's really a sad, sad commentary.